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 Replies: 8 / Views: 1,210 |
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Pillar of the Community
Singapore
631 Posts |
Hi all,  anyone here has good knowledge and a sure fire way to spot Old Malaya, Straits Settlements, North Borneo, Proof coins ? Especially the matte ones, as to me they look the same. I'm sure there must be some difference but most people I ask just give me a vague answer or are unwilling to share |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
Very sharp, usually wire rims; sharp strike and details; mirrorish look akin to more modern prooflike coins, but without cameo effect. Here is one that I own, sorry pics aren't too clear but it's in plastic and my photography isn't great.   |
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Pillar of the Community
 Singapore
631 Posts |
Kindly could you elaborate the meaning of wire rims ? Also when you mentioned mirror finish without cameo are you referring to the cartwheel lustre effect ? Could someone use a dremel tool and polish a normal coin to achieve the same mirror finish ?
Also there are also Matte Proof coins without mirror finish right ? How do we spot those ?
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
By mirror I mean the fields look reflective, but don't have much of a cartwheel effect. Wire rims are thin and rise unusally high from the fields compared to normal coins, which have lower, wider rims.
This doesn't always apply to all coins from all the countries you mentioned, but it's a general set of characteristics often seen on 19th century proofs.
Edited by Numismat
12/16/2015 04:34 am
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Pillar of the Community
Singapore
631 Posts |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
That is one problem with identifying proofs - they sometimes looks like cleaned coins. The difference is there is no loss of details as there would be with a coin that was buffed enough to make the fields reflective.
The coin you posted looks like a cleaned business strike. There is a halo of original luster around the legends, which is a sure sign of cleaning.
Edited by Numismat
12/17/2015 02:31 am
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Pillar of the Community
Singapore
631 Posts |
Good spot on the halos Numismat, thanks.
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Pillar of the Community
Singapore
631 Posts |
How about this BNB Half Cent ? Could it be a Matte Proof ?   |
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Pillar of the Community
United States
1666 Posts |
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Replies: 8 / Views: 1,210 |
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Posted 12/16/2015 03:29 am
